Page 12

chapter Eleven

Michaela

G lancing over at Marley as she slumps down in the passenger seat makes me feel like shit.

I knew that staying with the wolves would be difficult for her, but I wasn’t expecting Chayton to put that no feeding on towns’ people rule in place. Having to drive so far to feed made it harder to keep her fed.

Having to keep her block up all the time is burning through her energy and animal blood doesn’t replace that type of energy.

So here we are, heading nearly an hour away so that we can properly eat. Even being this far away from the wolves puts us at risk, but I need to take care of Marley. I know I’m going against the curfew he put into place four days ago, but I highly doubt they care if we get eaten by wolves.

“How are you holding up?” I ask, turning the music down.

“Not great,” she sighs. “I’m getting lightheaded.”

That’s not uncommon for a younger vampire who has gone too long without blood.

“Well, don’t you worry. I’ll find us some nourishment. You can just sit in the car, and I’ll bring them to you.”

I turn the music up after that. This time, I didn’t tell anyone we were leaving. I didn’t want Liz to know what I was doing. She still doesn’t quite grasp the fact that I’m a vampire. She’s had lots of questions, but she never asks me about how I feed. I assume that’s maybe a touchy subject for her. So, I don’t volunteer any information.

I pull the car I purchased on the way here into a parking lot outside of a small bar. After turning the engine off, I turn to my sister.

“Wait here.” I’m not worried about leaving her alone. I won’t be that far away from her. If anyone comes to this car to bother her, it wouldn’t end well for them.

She rolls her eyes. “Like I have the energy to move.”

Shaking my head at her, I slide out of the car. I tug at the long sleeves of my black crop top. My curls are pulled up in a high pony at the top of my head. My black leather pants fit like a second skin. Walking into the building, I make my way over to the bar.

I’m in the perfect spot to get a good glimpse of the room.

“What can I get you?” the female bartender asks. Her flannel is unbuttoned so low her tits are nearly falling out onto the bar in front of me.

“Coke and jack please.”

The bartender walks away to fix my drink. I scan the crowd. At the back of the room is a group of about four men playing pool. Decent meal, but they would require more time than I have to give. I’d have to convince only one of them to break away from the pack.

A group of college age girls are swaying to the music on the dance floor. They’d be easy, but from the way every guy in here is eye fucking them, it would be too obvious if I lured them away.

There’s an older guy at the end of the bar. He would be easy, but the amount of alcohol in his bloodstream is too much for Marley.

The bartender comes back and places my drink down in front of me with a napkin underneath. I reach for my cash, but she stops me.

“It’s already paid for.”

“By who?”

“The gentleman sitting in the booth back there.” She smiles before walking away.

I turn around to see who sent the drink. A light brown skinned guy with a cowboy hat on tilts his head in my direction.

“Well, I guess I found my victim.” I lift my glass toward him and then take a deep gulp of the drink.

Sliding off my barstool, I make my way over to the handsome guy. He watches me with every step I take. The energy rolling off him is electrifying. He’s hoping to get lucky tonight.

I slide into the seat across from him.

“Michaela,” I say, holding out a hand.

He places his hand in mine. “Jamieson.”

Letting his hand go, I smile. “Thanks for the drink.”

“It’s no problem. Thank you for the company.”

“So, you live out here?”

He grins, showing off nice teeth. He has a slight gap in the two front teeth. “Did you see the big rig parked out in the parking lot?”

I nod.

“That’s mine. I’m just passing through.”

Even better.

“Where are you from?” I question, leaning back in my seat. His gaze drops briefly to my c-cup tits before glancing back up at my eyes.

It doesn’t take much to lull a human male into my trap. Half of the time I don’t even need compulsion to get them to follow me.

He chuckles. “North Carolina. Born and raised.”

“Never been,” I lie.

Jamieson and I go back and forth with small talk for another few minutes. Each time I ask a question; he relaxes a little more. He thinks he’s just growing more comfortable with me; but it’s actually my compulsion at work.

Finally, once I feel I have him right where I want him, I make my move.

Placing my hand on top of his on the table, I lock my gaze with his.

“Come outside with me,” I say, barely above a whisper. But his ears didn’t need to hear me. I was speaking to his thoughts.

Without a reply, Jamieson stands to his feet. I smile as I slide out of the booth. He locks his hands in mine as we walk hand in hand outside.

“To the left.” I push inside his head as we step out of the doors. He follows my silent command.

Walking past my car, I dip my chin to Marley. I lead Jamieson around the back of the building where the trashcans are. Once we find a secluded spot, I gently push him back against the wall.

“You’re so beautiful,” he says breathlessly.

“Yes,” I say, leaning into him. His hands land on my hips, pulling me into his body. If I were any other vampire, this would be the moment I’d get excited. However, I haven’t felt the thrill of arousal in years. Despite Jamieson being attractive, my body finds no pleasure in him.

“Relax for me,” I whisper against his lips. His body immediately responds. “Now close your eyes.”

His eyes shut. I wave my sister over. Jamieson was so caught in my web, he didn’t even notice Marley step out of the car and follow us.

Marley comes up beside me.

“Oh, he’s cute.” she says.

Rolling my eyes, I turn to her. “Will you feed. It doesn’t matter how he looks.”

I step back, trading places with Marley. I watch as she sinks her fangs into Jamieson’s neck. She hums as she eats. Jamieson sighs with happiness. Being fed on by a vampire is like getting high. It’s a euphoric feeling.

In the morning, Jamieson will awake with a dry mouth and a rush of dopamine. He won’t have a memory of anything other than buying me a drink. He has no fear of being turned. It requires much more to turn a human into a vampire than a simple bite.

Once Marley has her fill of blood, she releases Jamieson and takes a step back. I can already see the change in her. Her skin looks brighter, and the bags under her eyes are gone.

“Better?” I ask.

She licks the little blood staining her lips away. “So much better.”

“Alright, head back to the car. I’m going to feed and then put him in his truck.”

“Okay,” she says before walking away, humming. Clearly, she’s feeling better.

I turn back to a smiling Jamieson. Stepping back into his space, I whisper against his lips.

“You’re going to enjoy this one.”

I sank my fangs into his neck, and he moans. Taking deep pulls of his A positive blood, his moans grow louder. I drink until I feel his body shudder with his orgasm.

The older a vampire gets, the better they are at controlling their feeding, making it pleasurable for both parties. Marley doesn’t know this yet, and I’m in no rush to teach her.

Once I’m done feeding, I run my tongue over my puncture wound and Marley’s healing them instantly.

After placing Jamieson safely into his truck, Marley and I head back toward pack lands.

“I love this song,” Marley says, turning the volume up on the R it is a strikingly beautiful animal. Right before my eyes, the wolf transforms into a seething man. The Beta storms right up to me, grabbing me by the neck he pins me to the car. I’m so stunned and caught off guard by his actions, I don’t react.

“Where the hell have you been?” he snarls down at me.

I lift a brow at him in warning. He releases his hold on my neck and steps back, giving me space. Standing up straight, I finally answer.

“We needed to feed.”

He glares at me in disgust. “I told you not to leave pack lands without letting me know.”

“I told you that wasn’t part of Chayton’s original rules.”

The Beta takes a step toward me. While he was able to grab me once, he won’t get that privilege again. He pauses as if he realizes what he’s about to do.

“If it were not for me, you would’ve been dead, leech.”

“I didn’t need your help.”

He scoffs. “Are you sure about that?”

Positive. But I didn’t tell him that.

“I could’ve taken care of us.”

He sucks his teeth. “Because of you, I had to leave my pack vulnerable.”

“Again, did not ask you to help.”

He growls, shaking his head. “You are insufferable.”

“And you’re a bully.”

“And I’m exhausted and cold,” Marley says stepping out of the car. “Can we please wrap this argument up?”

“Not now, Marley,” I snap.

“Don’t yell at her.”

I turn my attention back to the Beta. “Oh, now you want to take up for my sister? Just two weeks ago, you tried to kill her.”

He takes a step forward. “I apologized for that.”

Crossing my arms over my chest, I reply. “Yeah, well, I didn’t accept.”

“Well I do,” Marley says.

I swing my head over to her.

She glares at me before turning to the Beta.

“I accept your apology. Thank you. Now, can you perhaps help us with the car?”

“We don’t need his help,” I snarl at my treacherous sister.

“I’ll look at it,” the Beta replies, ignoring me.

I toss my arms up in the air over him and Marley. The Beta looks under the hood of the car, twisting off caps and checking oil.

I stand off to the side, still pissed at him and Marley.

“It’s going to need some work,” the Beta says, wiping his hands on his pants. “I’ll have someone tow it into town tomorrow.”

“I can have someone tow it. I don’t need—”

“My help. Yeah, I got it.” He slams the hood of the car down. “Come on, I’ll walk you back.” He doesn’t even wait to see if we will follow as he walks. Marley turns to follow. I shut my eyes and take a deep breath before I join them.

This is not how I planned to end my night.